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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- fedex_expressdelivery83@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: desktoki21@mchsi.com (leonard jefferson)
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 21:44:43 +0000
Subject: Greetings!
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you since to contact me
for your Confirmable Bank Draft of 800.000.00
United States Dollars, but I did not
hear from you since that time. Then I went and
deposited the Draft with FED-EX COURIER COMPANY,
West Africa, I traveled out of the
country for a 3 Months Course and I will not
come back till end of August.
What you have to do now is to contact the
FED-EX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible
to know when they will deliver your package to
you because of the expiring date.
For your information, I have paid for the
delivering Charge, Insurance premium and
Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing
that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor
Terrorist attack in your Country.
The only money you will send to the FED-EX COURIER
SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to your postal
Address in your country is (185.00US) Dollars only
being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company
so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay
any other money except 185.00US Dollars.
Contact Person: Mr.Jerry Gold
Email Address:fedex_expressdelivery83@hotmail.com
Telephone:+234-7032293528
Regards.
Mr Leonard jefferson
Anti-fraud resources:
